XCIII/The Blue/Anesthetize Productions/2019 EP Review

 

  XCIII  are  a  band  from  France  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  avant  garde  and  experimental  mixture  of  black  metal,  trip  hop  and  industrial  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  ep  "The  Blue"  which  was  released  by  Anesthetize  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later  while  synths  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  progressive  sounding  along  with  some  female  vocals  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.

  Programmed  beats  and  trip  hop  elements  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  while  the  songs  also  have  their  progressive  moments.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  more  experimental  side  of  the  tracks

  Touches  of  industrial  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  male  vocals  also  being  utilized  briefly.  One  of  the  tracks  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  also  showing  an  influence  of  black  metal,  as  the  ep  progresses  a  brief  use  of  whispered  vocals   and  hip  hop  style  rapping can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Romanticism,  Human  nature  and  Spleen  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  decent  sounding  recording  from  XCIII  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  black  metal,  experimental,  progressive,  industrial  and  trip  hop,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Abstract"  and  "The  Blue".  7/5  out  of  10.

Website: www.xciii.fr
Bandcamp: https://anesthetize.bandcamp. com/album/the-blue
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ xciiispleen
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/ UCMQbJYLSA9a6oMkKkofoWtA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ xciii.paris/    

 

Moon Reaper/Descent/2021 EP Review

 

  Moon  Reaper  are  a  band  from  the  united  Kingdom  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom, d eath  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a review  of  their  self  released  2021  ep  "Descent"  which  will  be  released  on  July  30th.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  which  also  introduces  growls  onto  the  recording.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  black  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  songs.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  clean  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  the  growls  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  deathcore  on  one  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Moon  Reaper  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom,  death,  progressive  and  post  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Moon  Reaper  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spiralism"  and  "Necromancy".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/moonreaperband6669

https://youtu.be/S3RzvVhkiCs  

    

Psychomancy/Divine Archetype/2021 CD Review

 

  Psychomancy  are  a  band  from  Columbia  that  plays  a  very  melodic,  progressive  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "Divine  Archetype"  which  will  be  released  on  July  25th.

  Dark  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  and  female  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  Symphonic  elements  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

 The  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  vocals  also  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  balance  between  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  tracks  also  showing  some  influences  of  both  the  old  school  and  modern  eras,  female  vocals  also  make  a  return  in  certain sections  of  the  recording.

  Psychomancy  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic,  progressive  and  symphonic  sides  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  based  around  the  idea  of   God,  Creation,  Origin  and  Power.

  In  my  opinion  Psychomancy  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic,  progressive  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "My  Faith"  "Vimana"  and  "The  Hidden  Key".  8  out  of  10.

Website: https://psychomancy.info
Bandcamp: https://psychomancy.bandcamp. com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Psychomancy.band
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ psychomancy
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ artist/14rDuMIdUdtjWTqmVXXyxz? si=DfFHUoR_TVeK-NMv6zscFw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ psychomancy.band/    

    

Thyrfing/Vanagandr/Despotz Records/2021CD Review

 

  Thyrfing  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  around  for  more  than  25  years  and  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  viking  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Vanagandr"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Despotz  Records.

  A  very  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  epic  sounding  synths  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  off  the  recording  along  with  the  music  being  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also have  a  very  powerful  sound  to them  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Stringed  instruments  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  clean  pagan  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  a later  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing,  operatic  female  vocals  can  also b e  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  Norse  Mythology  and  the  Darker  Side  Of  Life.

  In  my opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Thyrfing  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Undergångens länkar"  "Järnhand"  and  "Jordafärd".  8  out  of  10.

http://www.thyrfing.com
http:/www.facebook.com/thyrfingofficial  
http://www.instagram.com/thyrfingofficial

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThyrfingOfficial  

Hapless Wretch Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?

Hapless Wretch is a project I started this year, it's a passion project, really. I just love making heavy, extreme music. Recording, mixing and seeing what disgusting sounds I can make are some of my favourite things to do. Apart from the drums, everything is recorded at home. I like using real amps and micing cabs, and just sculpting sounds. I mix and master everything myself.

2.So far you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

It's interesting because I never set out to make music of any specific genre, I like the fact that Hapless Wretch is a mix of styles. There are elements of death metal, black metal, grindcore and also some sludgy bits. I just whirl all my influences together and see what comes out. The vocals on the EP are high pitched screams, as that's the only type I can do! I guess I prefer them sonically to the low death metal growls, to me it just sounds more pleasing. I've used programmed drums as I didn't have a drummer or a drum kit when I recorded it during lockdown.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that you have explored so far with the music so far?

Mental Illness. Misanthropy. Anger at the death and destruction we cause on this planet towards humans and animals. Hapless Wretch isn't a distinctly political band but I couldn't help but bleed some of the anger I've held towards the UK government into the songs. 

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Hapless Wretch'?

Partly a reference to myself being hapless and wretched. But I actually took it from a book, it was either in The Devils Elixirs or Le Bas or some other gothic novel, but it was used to describe a group of horrible witches and I just thought it was perfect. It described the music better than I could have myself. 

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover?

It was created by Primitive Print. I was looking for some art to complete the release and I reached out to Dan and he made that for me, it was just perfect from the start. I like working with artists, I would only reach out if I truly felt their work represented what I was doing. 

6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

I often work solo as I prefer being able to do everything myself, but it's not about control necessarily, it's more that I work very spontaneously and I just can't wait around for other people. I have been collaborating with a drummer in America who reached out to me. He's recorded some live drums and I'm really liking them so I'm definitely going to use them on a future release I have planned. I'm also collaborating with two other guys Nick (bass) and Louis (drums) to perform Hapless Wretch live in the future, it's just a slow process.

7.The ep was released on 'Cursed Monk Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Yeah, sure, Cursed Monk Records are a label from Ireland, they specialise in releasing underground, heavy, esoteric and experimental records. They reached out to me out of the blue after hearing one of my tracks on a playlist and I jumped at the chance to release a CD with them, they have been great to work with. I'm also releasing Vol.1 on tape with Life After Death in America, so look out for that, too.

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, sludge and death metal?

When I made Vol.1 I really didn't expect anyone to listen to it or be interested in it. I sent it around on a whim on the off chance somebody might hear it. It's mad to me that people have listened to it and labels want to release it. When you make music you just want people who get it to hear it, so I'm really pleased with the reaction so far, and I hope that people see how the project grows with each further release.

9.Are you involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

I have played in some bands in the past, I also help Nick by playing bass on some of his compositions. But apart from that not really, I've always found it extremely difficult to find musicians to play music with in the UK.

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I have a second EP already recorded and ready to go, I'm just waiting for everything to come into place to put that out later in the year. But right now I'm concentrating on Vol.1. I want Hapless Wretch to keep growing with each release and get more and more disgusting. Hopefully, Hapless Wretch will be a live band in the near future.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

This is a hard question as there's so much music! I put out a monthly playlist on Spotify of all the things I've been listening to that month, so check that out if you're interested. When recording Vol.1 I would say, a lot of Grindcore such as Deterioration, Internal Rot, Triac, Cloudrat, Chepang, Death Toll 80k, Fluoride. Classic Death metal too, Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel, Carcass, Asphyx, Entombed, Cryptopsy. 

Some newer bands I'm really digging are 200 Stab Wounds, Blemish, Ossuary, Coffin Mulch, Blood Incantation, Fleshrot, Afterbirth, Faceless Burial, Gravesend, Greenwitch, Pissgrave... the list could go on and on... there's too many...

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? 

Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far and know that Hapless Wretch will always be: Fucking wretched music, for fucking wretched people.

Bandcamp

Finnugor/Fame Et Morte/Earth And Sky Productions/2021 CD Re-Issue Review

 

  Finnugor  are  a  band  with  members  from  Finland  and  Hungary  that  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2008  album  "Fame  Et  Morte"  which  was  re-issued  in  2021  by  Earth  And  Sky  Productions.

  Symphonic  sounding  orchestras  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a decent  amount  of  melody.

  Clean  goth  style  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  tracks  also  added  in  a  small  amount  of  whispered  vocals.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  some  choirs  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  album  and most  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  as  the  album  progresses  more  medieval  and  folk  music  touches  can  also  be  heard  and  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  fast  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Horror,  Dark  Fantasy  and  Satanism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Finnugor  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Iaspidis  Et  Sardini"  "Subtus  Terram"  "Fame  Et  Morte"  and  "Diabolus  Et  Satanas".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp

  

Fausttophel/Ultimum Lupus/Another Side Records/2021 EP Review

 

  Russia/Ukraine's  Fausttophel  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "Ultimum  Lupus"  which  was  released  by  Another  Side  Records.

 The  sounds  of  wolves  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  all  of  the  instruments  also  sound  very  powerful.  Vocals  are  done  in  mostly  an  angry  shouting  style  that  is  more  closer  to  thrash  metal  than  previous  releases  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

    Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  recording  as  well  as  one  of  the  tracks  also b einf  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  briefly,  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  the  ep  closes  with  a  cover  of  Lunar  Onlooker's  "Burn,  The  Flame,  By  Shades  of  Time,  Take  The  Winning  Color!  which  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Fausttophel  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Ultimum  Lupus".  8  out  of  10.

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